Johannesburg – One of the 15 wounded patrons shot during a deadly attack by gunmen at Dora’s Tavern in Wedela, Carltonville, West Rand, has died in hospital, raising the number of the deceased to 18.
The weekend massacre, thought to involve at least eight gunmen, has sent shockwaves throughout Gauteng and the country.
President Cyril Ramaphosa said the shooting underscores the urgent need to curb violent crime. He also revealed that technology was helping police identify the suspected gunmen.
Seventeen patrons were declared dead on the scene by paramedics, and 15 others were hospitalised with gunshot wounds
RELATED: Wedela Massacre: Gunmen Shoot Dead 17 Tavern Patrons, Wound 15 Others – The Bulrushes
“One more victim has died in hospital, bringing the total number of deceased to 18,” police spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili said on Monday, 28 September 2026.
“Only four of the deceased have been identified, two South Africans and two Lesotho nationals.
“All the injured victims in hospital have been identified.”
Gauteng Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni, has established a dedicated multidisciplinary team to investigate the shooting at a tavern in Wedela, West Rand District, during the evening of 26 September 2026.
The team comprises seasoned murder and robbery detectives, Crime Intelligence and Crime Scene Investigation members, and is led by a senior Brigadier responsible for Crime Investigation Services in the province.
There were also deadly shootings in Cape Town over the weekend.
Eleven people – eight men and three women – were killed in three separate shooting incidents in Cape Town.
The shootings occurred between late Saturday night and early Sunday morning in Khayelitsha, Langa, and Gugulethu.
In KwaZulu-Natal, police launched a manhunt for suspects who allegedly shot and killed 11 people, including a pregnant woman, and injured three others during a shooting incident in the Ziko area of KwaMakhutha on Tuesday night, 22 September 2026.
